Roof cutting follower



J. D. RUSSELL Aug. l, 1967 ROOF CUTTI NG FOLLOWER wm v Ov mw N. ON

Filed Feb. l, 1965 his ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,333,898 ROOF CUTTING FLLWER .lohn D. Russell, Bradford Woods, Pa., assigner to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 429,588 4 Claims. (Cl. 299-67) This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to a new and improved adjustable roof cutter.

Continuous miners of the boring type are customarily characterized by having a mobile frame comp-rising a plurality of laterally adjacent rotatable boring elements positioned at the forward end thereof, which elements form a pattern of overlapping contiguous bores in the mineral Vein. For the purpose of removing the V-shaped projections, commonly called cusps, formed at the intersection of the bores by such a pattern and for removing a small portion of mineral above such cusps, an adjustable top trimming cutter is employed. Such top trimming cutters are conventionally disposed immediately to the rear of the -rotary borers, and the mineral which is removed by the trimming cutters is gravitationally fed to a common conveyor disposed therebelow. One of the critical problems confronted in the design of such arrangements, and particularly in low seam applications, has been in accommodating in the limited minimum vertical space available, cutting means of an adequate size to provide a substantial range of adjustment. Also, a problem exists in handling the mineral removed by such adjustable cutters through the confined area and space occupied by moving parts and mineral around and immediately behind the rotary borers and their drive. Since all the mineral removed must pass through the front throat of the miner, the rate of advancement of said miner is seriously handicapped.

The roof cutting follower of the present invention, as hereinafter described, provides a solution to the above problem by mounting an adjustable roof cutter on a separate portable carriage a substantial distance to the rear of the primary boring means for the purpose of accommodating relatively large adjustable roof cutters within the limits of the bore opening, and for handling the mineral removed by the roof cutters with minimum interference from machine parts and previously removed mineral. Furthermore, an increased volume of mineral may be reclaimed by utilizing a mining machine having minimum diameter boring arms in combination with a follower carriage having several roof cutters operable at different vertical levels.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved adjustable roof cutter.

It is another object of the present invention t-o provide a new and improved roof cutter having large adjustable cutters mounted on an independent portable carriage.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a new and improved roof cutter comprising large adjustable cutters mounted on an independent portable carriage having material handling means disposed thereon.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view Iof the mobile roof cutting apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the apparatus of this invention as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that a mobile roof cutting apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention clom- 3,333,898 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 ICC prises a vehicle generally indicated as 10 having a suitable elongated main frame 12 mounted on suitable mobile ground engaging means 14.

Adjacent its forward end, the frame of the vehicle 10 is provided with a hitch generally designated 16, which is adapted to be suitably, pivotably attached to the rear end of a mining machine M, and towed thereby. For purposes of this description, the forward end of the vehicle will be the right hand side of the vehicle as viewed in FIGS. l and 2. Adjacent its rearward end, frame 12 is provided with a hitch generally designated 18, which is adapted to be suitably, pivotably connected to the rst conveyor unit 20 of a train of such units connected in series. Although vehicle 10 is preferably towed by the miner, the principles of this invention contemplate a selfpropelled vehicle, if desired.

Main frame 12 is constructed adjacent its forward end to form a material receiving portion or hopper generally indicated as 22, said hopper having a first compartment 19 for receiving disintegrated mineral discharged by the associated mining machine and a second compartment 21 for receiving disintegrated mineral removed by a roof cutter. Such hopper comprises a pair of inclined side walls 24 and 26 respectively, and a forward inclined end wall 28, and is separated into the two compartments by partitions 23 and 25.

Extending longitudinally along the bottom of hopper 22 and rearwardly therefrom is an endless flight delivery conveyor designated generally as 30 having flight elements 32 which are engaged with and rendered movable by a plurality of orbital conveyor chains 34 suitably driven in an orbital manner and constrained to move in such orbital path by a suitable driving means (not shown) preferably located at the rearward end of the vehicle. As such driving means are conventional and have been widely used in well known commercial structures by applicants assignee, no detailed illustration or amplification is believed necessary.

An adjustable roof cutter, generally indicated as 36, serves to cut mineral from the roof of a mine entry or passageway. As hereinbefore mentioned, a -plurality of such cutters may be provided, if desired. This top cutter may assume various forms, but herein, for illustrative purposes, -comprises a rotatable cylindrical cutter drum 38 having a pair of rotatable cone-shaped cutters 40 disposed at either end of said drum with cutter bits or teeth 42 disposed about the outer surfaces of said drum and cone cutter, respectively. Any suitable driving means may be employed for rotating the drum and cones.

For an example, and for a more detailed description of the structure of the roof cutter herein illustrated, and the drive therefor, reference may be had to copending application Ser. No. 429,589, filed Feb. 1, 1965, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. It should be noted, however, that although the speciiic roof cutter herein shown is preferable, the principles of this invention envisage any other suitable roof cutting means.

The roof cutter is carried by a boom frame generally indicated at 44 comprising a pair of substantially vertically spaced frame members 46 and 48 which extend transversely across the main frame I2. Upper frame 46 is pivotally connected at its rear end about laterally spaced pivots 50, which are suitably secured to either side of the main frame 12, and lower frame 48 is pivotally mounted at its rear end about laterally spaced pivots 52, which are suitably secured to either side of the main frame 12. The forward ends of frames 46 and 48 are pivotally connected at 54, 56 respectively, to lugs 58 and 60, which are suitably, rigidly secured to an elongated transversely extending support frame `62. Secured to member 62, and

extending forwardly from adjacent either end thereof, are a pair of brackets 64 and 66 for rigidly supporting the cone and drum cutting means. It will be readily apparent that members 46, 48 and 62 constitute a geometric linkage of the parallelogram type and, although this type of a linkage arrangement is preferable, it should be noted that the principles of this invention contemplate the use of any other suitable structure capable of obtaining the roof cutter orientation desired.

Means are provided for vertically adjusting the roof cutter, such means comprising a pair of suitable extensible hydraulic jacks 68, having their head ends 70 thereof, suitably pivotally mounted at 72 to the sides of main frame 12 and the rod ends 74 thereof, suitably pivotably mounted at 76 to upper frame 46. Upon proper actuation, jacks 68 are effective to raise or lower the roof cutter 36 for the purpose of selectively varying the vertical relationship of the roof cutter with respect to the primary boring means in order to form the roof level desired. When the mining apparatus has penetrated the mine vein to the proper depth or if, for any other reason, it is desired to retract the apparatus, the roof cutter is lowered to its lowermost position, which is adjacent the hopper bottom, to facilitate removal of the mining apparatus.

Thus, this invention provides an improved mining apparatus having the unique combination of a roof cutter mounted on `an independent portable carriage having material handling means disposed thereon. By the provision of a separate carriage, roof cutters of ample size `and adjustability can be accommodated in a minimum size bore hole. Furthermore, mineral removed by the roof cutters falls directly to the conveyor substantially rearwardly of the primary cutting means to allow the free ow of mineral without interference from moving parts associated with such primary cutting means and without interference from previously removed mineral.

A preferred embodiment of the principles of this invention having been described and illustrated herein, it it to be realized that modifications thereof can be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A roof cutting follower comprising: an elongated longitudinally extending frame having a material receiving portion at the forward end thereof and a discharge portion at the other end, the forward end of the follower being solely defined by said frame; said frame supported by ground engaging mobile means; an endless flight delivery conveyor extending in an orbital path from adjacent said forward end of said frame to adjacent said other end thereof; at least one transversely extending roof cutter overlying said conveyor and disposed intermediate said forward `and other ends, respectively; and means for mounting said roof cutter above said conveyor.

2. A roof cutting follower comprising: an elongated longitudinally extending frame having a hopper at the forward end thereof and a discharge section at the other end the forward end of the follower being solely defined by said frame; said frame supported by ground engaging mobile means; an endless flight delivery conveyor extending in an orbital path from adjacent the forward end of said hopper, rearwardly along the bottom thereof, then upwardly and rearwardly to the discharge section; at least one transversely extending roof cutter overlying said conveyor and disposed rearwardly of the forward end of said hopper; and means for mounting said roof cutter for adjustment through a substantial range of elevated positions including a lowermost position in which the roof cutter is disposed `'adjacent said delivery conveyor at the bottom of the hopper.

3. A roof cutting follower comprising: an elongated longitudinally extending frame having a hopper at the forward end thereof and a discharge section at the other end the forward end of the follower being solely delined by said frame; said frame supported by ground engaging mobile means; an endless flight delivery conveyor extending in an orbital path from adjacent the forward end of said hopper, rearwardly through a substantially level portion along the bottom thereof, then upwardly and rearwardly to the discharge section; at least one roof cutter overlying said level portion of said conveyor and extending transversely beyond the lateral edges of said conveyor, said cutter being `disposed rearwardly of the forward end of said hopper; a parallelogram linkage pivotally connected to said frame for supporting said roof cutter; and means for actuating said parallelogram linkage to effect adjustment of said roof cutter through a substantial range of elevated positions including a lowermost position in which the roof cutter is disposed adjacent said delivery conveyor at the bottom of said hopper.

4. A towable roof cutting follower comprising: an elongated longitudinally extending frame having a hopper at the forward end thereof and a discharge section at the other end; said frame having hitch means at said forward end solely dening the forward end of said follower; said frame being supported by ground engaging mobile means; an endless ight delivery conveyor extending in an orbital path from adjacent the forward end of said hopper, rearwardly through a substantially level portion along the bottom thereof, then upwardly and rearwardly to the discharge section; `a pair of vertically spaced frame members connected at their one ends, respectively, to said frame for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, respectively, and pivotally connected at their other ends to an elongated support frame extending transversely of said frame; at least one transversely extending roof cutter overlying said level portion of said conveyor and located rearwardly of the forward end of said hopper and carried by said elongated support frame; and means for pivoting said frame members about said horizontal axes, respectively, to effect adjustment of said roof cutter through a substantial range of elevated positions including a lowermost position in which the roof cutter is disposed adjacent said delivery conveyor at the bottom of said hopper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,595,398 5/1952 Lewis 299--65 3,044,753 7/l962 Wilcox 299-76 X 3,268,258 8/1966 Kegal 299-64 X ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner, 

1. A ROOF CUTTING FOLLOWER COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FRAME HAVING A MATERIAL RECEIVING PORTION AT THE FORWARD END THEREOF AND A DISCHARGE PORTION AT THE OTHER END, THE FORWARD END OF THE FOLLOWER BEING SOLELY DEFINED BY SAID FRAME; SAID FRAME SUPPORTED BY GROUND ENGAGING MOBILE MEANS; AND ENDLESS FLIGHT DELIVERY CONVEYOR EXTENDING IN AN ORBITAL PATH FROM ADJACENT SAID FORWARD END OF SAID FRAME TO ADJACENT SAID OTHER END THEREOF; AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ROOF CUTTER OVERLYING SAID CONVEYOR AND DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE SAID FORWARD AND OTHER ENDS, RESPECTIVELY; AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ROOF CUTTER ABOVE SAID CONVEYOR. 